Chase ends with crashed car, damaged homes and suspect on roof

LAS CRUCES - Doña Ana County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man early Thursday morning after he led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour.

A deputy on duty in Sunland Park attempted to stop Erick Vasquez, 24, after witnessing Vasquez driving on the wrong side of McNutt Road. Vasquez refused to stop, initiating the high-speed pursuit.

The chase ended near the intersection of McNutt and Country Club Road when Vasquez crashed his car into a house and trailer, causing substantial damage to both residences and Vasquez's vehicle.

The residents inside both homes were asleep. No one was injured.

Vasquez again attempted to flee deputies after exiting the vehicle and running on to the roof of one of the residences he had just crashed into.

Deputies were able to talk Vasquez off the roof, after which he was taken into custody and transported to the Doña Ana County Detention Center.

Criminal investigators detected the smell of alcohol on Vasquez. Field sobriety tests were conducted, but Vasquez refused any chemical testing.

Vasquez is charged with aggravated DWI, criminal damage to property, resisting or obstructing arrest, driving on a suspended license and failure to provide insurance. He was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center and was released on a $5,000 surety bond.

A passenger who was with Vasquez was taken to an El Paso-area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.